3 tips to getting the most out of your workouts

There is no magic exercise. It takes work getting in shape and getting
healthy, but is it worth it?
Absolutely! Exercise has been
directly linked with a decrease in blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat, risk
of disease, anxiety and depression. It
has also been linked with an increase in mood and sense of body!​

​First of all, set some goals for yourself; short, manageable
goals. Write out your goals for
tomorrow, next week, next month... and place them in a spot that you see every day. This will help you stay motivated and moving
towards those things you want in your life.

When thinking of exercise, I want you to focus on three
aspects of your workouts – Time, Intensity, and Type.

Time will increase as you get stronger and fitter. Begin working towards 30 minutes of
continuous aerobic exercise. If 30
minutes seems too much at the beginning, break your workouts into 2 or 3 bouts
throughout the day, making sure that each session is at least 10 minutes. Aerobic
exercise is aimed to increase your heart rate, burn calories and strengthen
your muscles.

Intensity is individualized and difficult to track. How much
is too much? A workout isn’t beneficial
if you spend the next few days recovering from your treadmill session. However, if you’re not pushing yourself enough, you’re not getting the benefits! When starting an exercise program, use the
“Talk Test”. As you exercise, you should
be able to have a conversation, but you couldn’t sing if you had to. This is an estimate of the intensity you
should be working towards.

The best type of exercise is the kind you enjoy and will
do! Aerobic exercise includes walking,
running, riding a bike, kayaking, playing soccer with your kids, hiking,
etc. The type of exercise doesn’t matter
as much as the time and effort you put into it.

According
to the American College of Sports Medicine, the ultimate exercise goal is 30 to 60 minutes of activity, most days of the week. Let’s start working towards it!​

About the author

Meagan Kline is an exercise physiologist at the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain...

The views and content of this blog do not necessarily reflect the policies of Intermountain Healthcare. The content in these blogs should not be taken over advice of your care provider. As always, in the event of an emergency find care immediately.